Method and arrangement for fault detection in a switch system

ABSTRACT

For fault detection in a switch system including multiple switches, for a respective switch its operating data are acquired and transmitted to a central control. For a respective first switch of the switch system, a deviation of an operating behavior of the first switch from a set behavior is determined by the central control on the basis of its operating data. If there is a deviation, operating data of the first switch are compared with operating data of other, second switches of the switch system and, depending on that, a second switch with similar operating data is selected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European application No. 18170074.1,having a filing date of Apr. 30, 2018 the entire contents both of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates to a method and arrangement for fault detection ina switch system.

BACKGROUND

For track-bound modes of transport or means of transport, switches aregenerally used for changing over from one track to another. This is thecase for example for rail-bound means of transport such as railroads andstreetcars and also for switchbacks, trolley coaches or pneumatic mailsystems.

The switches are central elements of the transport route, which cangreatly disrupt an operating sequence if there are malfunctions. It isconsequently desirable that malfunctions and other faults in the switchsystem can be detected as precisely as possible and preferably can bepredicted. An identification of a respective cause of a fault wouldlikewise be very advantageous.

It is known to monitor switches and their operating mechanisms by meansof assigned sensors and to signal a fault when there are deviations inoperating behavior from a set behavior. However, predicting faultsand/or determining their causes by means of the known methodologyinvolves a relatively great effort.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to a method and an arrangement for fault detection ina switch system that allow more detailed fault indications and/orrequire less effort.

For fault detection in a switch system that is distributed over at leastone track route and comprises multiple switches, operating data of theswitch concerned are respectively acquired for the switches of theswitch system and transmitted to a central control. The term switchsystem should be understood here as also referring in particular to anydesired group of multiple switches. For a respective first switch of theswitch system,

-   -   a deviation of an operating behavior of the first switch from a        set behavior is determined by the central control (CTL) on the        basis of the operating data of the first switch,    -   if there is a deviation, operating data of the first switch are        compared with operating data of other, second switches of the        switch system,    -   depending on the results of the comparison, a second switch with        similar operating data is selected,    -   on the basis of the operating data of the selected second        switch, a fault indication for the first switch is derived, and    -   the fault indication for the first switch is output.

For carrying out the method according to the embodiment of theinvention, an arrangement for fault detection in a switch system, acomputer program product (non-transitory computer readable storagemedium having instructions, which when executed by a processor, performactions) and a computer-readable storage medium are provided.

The method according to the embodiment of the invention and thearrangement according to the embodiment of the invention can be carriedout or implemented in particular by means of one or more processors,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs, and or so-called “field programmable gate arrays”(FPGAs).

The embodiment of the invention can advantageously use the fact thatswitches arranged on the same track route are often passed by the samevehicles, and are therefore subjected to similar loading. By analogywith this, switches that are located in spatial proximity are generallyexposed to similar ambient conditions, in particular similar weatheringconditions. Behaviors, and in particular malfunctional behaviors ofswitches of a switch system are therefore often correlated with oneanother. Consequently, a known behavior or malfunctional behavior ofsimilar switches can in many cases be used to detect or predict abehavior or malfunctional behavior of a relatively similar, first switchand/or to identify a probable fault cause. In particular, storedoperating data of an older switch can in many cases be used to deriveaccurate forecasts of a future behavior of a relatively similar, morerecent switch.

By means of the embodiment of the invention, fault finding andmaintenance in a switch system can often be shortened considerably andfault-specific countermeasures can be initiated at an early time. Theembodiment of the invention can be used in particular for themonitoring, testing, commissioning, maintenance, inspection, diagnosis,risk assessment and or control of a switch system, in particular evenduring operation.

Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are specifiedin the dependent claims.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operatingdata acquired for a respective switch are transmitted to the centralcontrol by a transmitting device assigned to this switch. Thetransmission may take place in a wire-bound or wireless manner and/or byway of a data network, in particular the Internet. The transmittingdevice assigned to a respective switch may be arranged at the switchconcerned or in a signal tower of the switch system. Because of theswitch-specific transmitting devices, in many cases no servicetechnician is required on site.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an indication of afault cause may be sought in the operating data of the selected secondswitch. If such an indication is found, the indication found may beoutput as a fault indication for the first switch. In cases where theselected second switch has similar operating data to the first switch, afault cause indicated in the operating data of the selected secondswitch can often also be assumed as the probable fault cause for thesecond switch.

Furthermore, an indication of a fault that has occurred may be sought inthe operating data of the selected second switch. If such an indicationis found, the indication found may be output as a fault forecast for thefirst switch. In cases where the selected second switch has similaroperating data to the first switch, a fault stored in the operating dataof the selected second switch may serve as a fault forecast for thefirst switch.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operatingdata of a respective switch may comprise a variation over time of apower consumption of a switch operating mechanism. An increased currentor power consumption may in this case suggest a sluggishness of theswitch concerned, which may be caused for example by icing, by anobstacle or by an obstruction, for example a stone.

According to a development of the embodiment of the invention, theoperating behavior and/or the set behavior of the respective firstswitch may be simulated by means of a physical simulation model of thefirst switch on the basis of the operating data of the first switch. Inparticular, a switch operating mechanism, a power transmission and/or aswitch blade of the first switch may be simulated by means of thephysical simulation model.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, multiple secondswitches of which the operating data are similar to the operating dataof the first switch may be selected. The operating data of the selectedsecond switches may then be combined to derive the fault indication, inorder for example to interpolate or extrapolate an operating parameter.

Furthermore, when comparing operating data of a respective first switchwith operating data of a respective second switch, a distance measurefor a distance between the respectively compared operating data may bedetermined. Alternatively or in addition, operating data patterns of theoperating data to be compared may be determined by a pattern recognitionmethod and compared, and the distance measure may be determineddepending on the pattern comparison. Depending on the distance measuredetermined, that second switch of which the operating data have asmaller or smallest distance from the operating data of the first switchmay be selected.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the embodimentof the invention, a knowledge graph of which the nodes are respectivelyassigned to a switch of the switch system may be managed by the centralcontrol. Operating data of a respective switch may then be stored inassignment to a node assigned to this switch or be stored in this node.Preferably, along with the operating data of the assigned switchacquired and transmitted at the time, historical operating data andother indications about this switch may preferably be collected ascomprehensively as possible in assignment to a node. A respective nodecan consequently be understood as it were as a data twin of therespectively assigned switch. Such a knowledge graph allows operatingdata and other data originating from different sources, such as forexample sensor data, maintenance data, ambient data, weather data ordata concerning an installation location of a respective switch, to bebrought together centrally. The data brought together may then belinked, correlated and evaluated in a particularly diverse way.

According to a further advantageous development of the embodiment of theinvention, virtual operating data for a multiplicity of virtual switchesmay be generated by means of a physical simulation model. The virtualoperating data may then be used as operating data of the secondswitches. A number of the virtual switches may be determined heredepending on a number and/or an age of the switches of the switchsystem. In particular, the number of virtual switches may be increasedin the case of recent and/or small switch systems. By generating virtualfleet data for the switch system, a volume of comparative data forcomparing with the operating data of the first switch can be increased.This allows better fault detection, and generally improves anapplication of data-driven evaluation methods, in particular in the caseof recent or small switch systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference tothe following figures, wherein like designations denote like members,wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a switch system controlled by a central control and

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement according to embodiments of the inventionfor fault detection in the switch system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a switch system WS of a track-bound means oftransport, for example a railroad, that is controlled by a centralcontrol CTL. Alternatively or in addition, the switch system WS may alsobe provided for other rail-bound means of transport, such as for examplestreetcars and switchbacks, trolley coaches, cable cars or pneumaticmail systems.

The switch system WS comprises a multiplicity of switches W, which arearranged in spatial proximity to one another along track routes ST1 andST2 or in some other way. The track route ST1 here comprises the tracksSP1 and SP2 and the track route ST2 comprises the tracks SP3 and SP4.

Switches W arranged on the same track or track route are often passed bythe same vehicles one after the other, and are consequently subjected toloading and wear in a similar way. In addition, it can be assumed thatswitches W that are located in spatial proximity to one another areexposed to similar ambient conditions, in particular similar weatheringinfluences. Consequently, behaviors, and consequently malfunctions, ofthe switches W concerned are often strongly correlated with one another.As a consequence, a behavior or a malfunction of a first switch can inmany cases be detected, and in particular predicted, more accurately bya known behavior of neighboring or similar switches being evaluated. Inparticular, a fault cause can often be identified in this way.

For monitoring the switches W, operating data BD of the switches WR arecontinuously and switch-individually acquired by sensors. In the presentexemplary embodiment, the operating data BD comprise in particular avariation over time of a current consumption or power consumption of arespective switch operating mechanism and an installation location of arespective switch W. Many types of fault leave a characteristicsignature in this variation over time, on the basis of which the faultcan be detected and/or identified. Thus, an increased currentconsumption of a switch operating mechanism often suggests asluggishness of the switch, for example as a result of icing, anobstacle and/or by an obstruction, for example a trapped stone.

The variation over time of the current consumption or power consumptionof a switch operating mechanism may be acquired at the switch Wconcerned or in a signal tower of the switch system WS.

Alternatively or in addition, the operating data BD may comprise inparticular physical, technical-control, technical-effect and/ortype-dependent operating parameters, property data, performance data,effect data, state data, configuration data, system data, defaultvalues, control data, sensor data, measured values, ambient data,weather data, temperature data, monitoring data, forecast data, analysisdata, maintenance data, data concerning an operating time of the switchand/or other data occurring during the operation of the switch orrelevant to the operation of the switch.

The operating data BD are transmitted to a central control CTL of theswitch system WS by transmitting devices of the switch system WS in awire-bound and/or wireless manner. The transmitting devices arerespectively assigned to a switch W and may be arranged at the assignedswitch W or in the signal tower of the switch system WS.

The central control CTL may preferably be implemented as a centralcomputer in the signal tower of the switch system WS and/or at leastpartially in a cloud. To control the switches W, the central control CTLgenerates control data ST, preferably depending on the operating data BDreceived, and transmits these control data to the switch system WS.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement according to the embodiment of the inventionfor fault detection in a switch system in a schematic representation. Afirst switch W1 of the switch system, for which a fault indication is tobe derived, and a multiplicity of other, second switches W2 of theswitch system, on the basis of which this fault indication is derived,are represented. Switches D1 and D2 respectively have sensors, whichcontinuously acquire operating data BD1 for the switch W1 and operatingdata BD2 respectively for the switches W2.

The switch W1 is assigned a transmitting device SE1, which transmits theacquired operating data BD1 to a central control CTL in a wire-boundand/or wireless manner. Correspondingly, the second switches W2 arerespectively assigned a transmitting device SE2, which transmits theoperating data BD2 of the respective switch W2 to the central controlCTL in a wire-bound and/or wireless manner. Because of the transmittingdevices SE1 and SE2, no service technician is required on site for theacquisition and evaluation of the operating data BD1 and BD2.

The aforementioned switch system, the first switch W1, the secondswitches W2, the operating data BD1 and BD2 and the central control CTLmay preferably be designed as described in connection with FIG. 1.

The central control CTL has one or more processors PROC for carrying outthe method steps of the embodiment of the invention and has one or morememories MEM coupled to the processor PROC for storing the data to beprocessed by the central control CTL.

The central control CTL also has a simulation module SIM, which servesfor simulating on the basis of the transmitted operating data of aswitch a dynamic operating behavior of this switch by means of aphysical switch simulation model SM. The simulation module may inparticular simulate a switch operating mechanism, a drive motor, a forcetransmission and/or a switch blade of the switch. For this purpose, theoperating data, here BD1, of the switch to be simulated, here W1, arefed to the simulation module SIM. The simulation is preferably carriedout in parallel with the operation of the switch, and advantageously inreal time.

In particular in the case of switch systems which comprise only a few orrelatively recent switches, it may be provided that virtual operatingdata are generated for a multiplicity of virtual switches by means ofthe simulation model SM or some other physical switch simulation model.With these generated virtual operating data, the operating data BD2 ofthe second switches W2 can be supplemented, in order to increase avolume of comparative data with which the operating data BD1 of thefirst switch W1 can be compared. In this way, data-driven simulating andforecasting methods can often be improved significantly. In this case,the number of virtual switches may be determined depending on a numberof switches in the switch system and/or depending on an operating age ofthese switches.

A knowledge graph KG, which is preferably implemented in a cloud C, ismanaged by the central control CTL. Along with the knowledge graph KG,components of the central control CTL may also be transferred into thecloud C or implemented there.

The knowledge graph KG comprises as data structures a multiplicity ofnodes, which are interlinked by edges of the knowledge graph KG. Thenodes are respectively uniquely assigned to a switch of the switchsystem or its switch operating mechanism, for example on the basis of aserial number of the switch or of the switch operating mechanism.

For all of the switches, here W1 and W2, of the switch system, theiroperating data, here BD1 and BD2, are respectively stored in the nodeassigned to the respective switch W1 or W2 and/or are assigned to it. Arespective node of the knowledge graph KG is intended to act as it wereas a data twin of the assigned switch.

In the present exemplary embodiment, in particular a variation over timeof the current or power consumption of the switch operating mechanism ofa respective switch and/or a force consumption or a time taken forchanging over a switch are acquired as operating data and stored in therespectively assigned node. Along with the operating data of therespective switch acquired and transmitted at the time, in particulardata concerning its installation location, maintenance data, state data,ambient data, data concerning the operating age or aging state,technical parameters and/or historical operating data of the respectiveswitch are stored in the assigned node. The historical operating data inthis case preferably include indications about a load history and orabout malfunctions that have occurred of the switch concerned andpreferably indications about fault causes. With otherwise similaroperating data, the operating data of an older switch or an older switchoperating mechanism stored in the knowledge graph KG can in many casesbe used to derive accurate forecasts of a future behavior of a morerecent switch.

The edges of the knowledge graph KG respectively connect nodes of theknowledge graph KG. An edge between two or more nodes may preferably beassigned operating relationships between the assigned switches. Suchoperating relationships between multiple switches may in particularcomprise their sequence on a track route and/or some other neighborhoodrelationship or similarity relationship.

The central control CTL also has a monitoring module MON for determininga deviation of an operating behavior of a respective switch, here W1,from a set behavior of the switch. For this purpose, the operating dataBD1 are transmitted to the monitoring module MON. The operating behaviorof the first switch W1 is determined on the basis of the operating dataBD1 and/or at least partially simulated by the simulation module SIM.The set behavior of the first switch W1 may be preset and/or at leastpartially simulated by the simulation module SIM on the basis of theoperating data BD1. For the simulation of the operating behavior or theset behavior, the monitoring module MON is coupled to the simulationmodule SIM. The operating behavior and/or set behavior may berespectively represented by a variation over time or a signature of thecurrent or power consumption of the switch concerned or its switchoperating mechanism and/or by a force consumption or a time taken forchanging over a switch or by other behavioral patterns of the switchconcerned.

The monitoring module MON may establish the deviation of the operatingbehavior of the first switch W1 from the set behavior for example bycomparing the operating behavior with the set behavior, determining adistance measure and checking whether the distance measure lies outsidea preset tolerance range or above a preset threshold value.

If a deviation of the operating behavior of the first switch W1 from itsset behavior is established by the monitoring module MON, the monitoringmodule MON instigates an inquiry of the operating data BD2 of the secondswitches W2 and a comparison of the operating data BD1 of the firstswitch W1 with the inquired operating data BD2 of the second switchesW2. The initiation of the inquiry and the comparison is indicated inFIG. 2 by a dashed arrow.

In the course of the comparison, operating data patterns or signaturesmay be acquired by pattern recognition methods and compared. In arespective comparison, a distance measure D for a distance of therespectively compared operating data or operating data patterns is ineach case determined as the comparison result. A respective distancemeasure D is in this case determined for a respective distance betweenthe operating data BD1 of the first switch W1 and the operating data BD2of a respective second switch W2. The distance measures D may also beunderstood as similarity measures.

In the present exemplary embodiment, distances or similarities betweenoperating data and/or operating data patterns are determined inparticular with regard to a current or power consumption of a switchoperating mechanism, an installation location, an association with atrack route, an operating age and/or an aging state of a respectiveswitch. For the calculation of the distance measure D, an Euclidean orweighted distance between operating data vectors or operating datasub-vectors may be determined. In the case of a weighted distance,preferably operating-data-specific or operating-data—type-specificweights may be used. Alternatively or in addition, logical distances mayalso be used for the calculation of the distance measure D. Thus, inparticular in the case of a highly branched track network, for examplebefore a station, conditional probabilities or correlations for a trainthat travels over a first switch then also traveling over a secondswitch may be calculated. Switches that are strongly correlated in thisrespect can then be assigned a smaller distance than correspondinglymore weakly correlated switches.

The above comparisons serve the purpose of finding that or those of thesecond switches W2 that is/are particularly similar to the first switchW1, behave(s) particularly similarly to it and/or has/have the same orsimilar signatures in the operating data. In particular, those of thesecond switches W2 that have behaved similarly to the first switch W1 inan earlier time period are searched. On the basis of a known furtherbehavior of the second switches thus found, in many cases accurateforecasts of the further behavior of the first switch W1 can be derived.In addition, fault causes detected in the case of the second switchescan often be identified as the probable fault cause for the first switchW1.

The comparisons or the similarity search are preferably carried out onthe knowledge graph KG in the cloud C.

The distance measures D are fed to a selection device SEL of the centralcontrol CTL. In addition, the operating data BD2 of the second switchesW2 are also transmitted to the selection device SEL. One or more secondswitches W2 of which the operating data BD2 have a smaller or a smallestdistance D from the operating data BD1 of the first switch W1 areselected by the selection device SEL on the basis of the distancemeasures D and the operating data BD2. As a selection criterion, it maybe checked here for example whether a respective distance D is smallerthan a preset threshold value or smaller than all of the other distancesD.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the distance measure D isspecifically calculated such that, with otherwise similar operatingdata, preferably that or those switches W2 that lie on the same track ortrack route as the first switch W1 and/or is/are located in the spatialproximity of the first switch W1 is/are selected. As already mentionedabove, because of the similar operating conditions, the behavior, andconsequently the malfunctions, of those second switches W2 are oftenstrongly correlated with the behavior and malfunctions of the firstswitch W1.

The selection device SEL transmits operating data SBD2 of the at leastone second switch W2 that is selected, and is consequently similar tothe first switch W1, to a fault detection module FDM. In cases wheremultiple similar second switches W2 are selected, their operating datamay for example be combined by means of interpolation or extrapolation.

Furthermore, the operating data BD1 of the first switch W1 aretransmitted to the fault detection module FDM. On the basis of theoperating data SBD2 of the at least one selected second switch W2 andthe operating data BD1 of the first switch W1, the fault detectionmodule FDM derives a fault indication FA1 for the first switch W1. Here,the fault indication FA1 preferably comprises a fault cause for a faultthat has occurred and/or a fault forecast for one or more faults to beexpected. The fault indication FA1 is output by the central control andcan be used for the anticipatory control of the switch system.

A fault cause for the first switch W1 may for example be derived by theoperating data SBD2 similar to the operating data BD1 being searchedthrough for a fault cause stored there and this being output as theprobable fault cause for the first switch W1. In a similar way, theoperating data SBD2 may be searched through for faults that haveoccurred and faults that are found output as a fault forecast for thefirst switch W1.

The embodiment of the invention described above easily allows anefficient and detailed detection of faults and their probable cause anda forecast of faults to be expected. In this way, fault finding andmaintenance of a switch system can in many cases be shortenedconsiderably and fault-specific countermeasures can be initiated at anearly time. In particular, on the basis of the fault indication output,maintenance personnel can be informed as to which fault-specific tool isrequired for maintenance. Furthermore, the fault indications output mayserve for estimating a risk of failure, a still remaining operating timeand/or a degree of severity of a fault.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form ofpreferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood thatnumerous additional modifications and variations could be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of ‘a’ or‘an’ throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and‘comprising’ does not exclude other steps or elements.

1. A method for fault detection in a switch system that is distributedover at least one track route and comprises multiple switches, themethod comprising: acquiring operating data of the switch concerned forthe switches of the switch system, and transmitting the operating datato a central control; and b) for a respective first switch of the switchsystem, determining a deviation of an operating behavior of the firstswitch from a set behavior by the central control on a basis of theoperating data of the first switch, if there is a deviation, comparingthe operating data of the first switch with operating data of other,second switches of the switch system, depending on the results of thecomparison, selecting a second switch with similar operating data, onthe basis of the operating data of the selected second switch, derivinga fault indication for the first switch, and outputting the faultindication for the first switch.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the operating data acquired for a respective switch aretransmitted to the central control by a transmitting device assigned tothe respective switch.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein anindication of a fault cause is sought in the operating data of theselected second switch and, if such an indication is found, theindication found is output as a fault indication for the first switch.4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an indication of a faultthat has occurred is sought in the operating data of the selected secondswitch and, if such indication is found, the indication found is outputas a fault forecast for the first switch.
 5. The method as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the operating data of a respective switch comprise avariation over time of a current consumption and/or a variation overtime of a power consumption of a switch operating mechanism of therespective switch.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein theoperating behavior and/or the set behavior of the respective firstswitch is simulated by means of a physical simulation model of the firstswitch on the basis of the operating data of the first switch.
 7. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple second switches of whichthe operating data are similar to the operating data of the first switchare selected, and the operating data of the selected second switches arecombined to derive the fault indication.
 8. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein, when comparing operating data of a respective firstswitch with operating data of a respective second switch, a distancemeasure for a distance between the respectively compared operating datais determined and/or operating data patterns are determined by a patternrecognition method and compared.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein a knowledge graph of which the nodes are respectively assignedto a switch of the switch system is managed by the central control, andthe operating data of a respective switch are stored in assignment to anode assigned to this switch.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein virtual operating data for a multiplicity of virtual switchesare generated by means of a physical simulation model, and the virtualoperating data are used as operating data of the second switches. 11.The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a number of virtual switchesis determined depending on a number and/or an age of the switches of theswitch system.
 12. An arrangement for fault detection in a switch systemthat is distributed over at least one track route, designed for carryingout a method as claimed in claim
 1. 13. A computer program product,comprising a computer readable hardware storage device having computerreadable program code stored therein, said program code executable by aprocessor of a computer system to implement a method as claimed inclaim
 1. 14. A computer-readable storage medium with a computer productas claimed in claim 13.